Police apologise for using sirens to settle playground argument over whether they go 'nee-naw' or 'woo-woo'

Police admitted they set off the siren 'quite a bit' to settle the argumentiStock

Police in Swindon have apologised for sounding off the sirens on one of their patrol vehicles in order to settle a debate with five-year-old children on whether they go "nee-nah" or "woo woo".

The sirens were sounded during a visit by police community support officers (PCSOs) to the Haydonleigh Primary School in Swindon, Wiltshire. The officers were holding a "People Who Help Us" session with three classes from the reception year of the school.

The officers said sorry to the local residents who may have been disturbed by the noise after admitting they set of the sirens "quite a bit" in order to settle the argument.

A North Swindon Police spokesperson said: "Apologies to anyone in the Haydonleigh area who may have been disturbed by our sirens yesterday morning – the PCSOs were at the primary school having a very important debate with the new Reception Year children about whether they go nee-nah or woo-woo.

"Our thanks to the teachers and pupils from the Robins, Puffins and Duckling classes for being so attentive to our 'People Who Help Us' talk, we were very impressed by your beautiful behaviour, thoughtful questions and knowledge about the police.

"We especially liked the suggestion that we should have police rhinos, and will be looking into the possibility of training them to knock down the 'baddies' front doors.

Haydonleigh Primary School wrote on their Facebook page that of the 88 children who attended the talk, 60 voted that the siren goes woo-woo, while 28 voted nee-nah.